Despite gains, women still do most of the housework. Will this gender gap ever narrow?

New research led by the University of Alberta highlights a gendered pattern of housework persisting from twenties to midlife, with parenthood widening the gap, as shown in a study of 520 Edmontonians over 25 years. The study reveals that decisions made early in relationships about chore distribution tend to remain constant, reflecting slow progress in closing the gender gap in unpaid work, as evidenced by Statistics Canada data showing women still do more household tasks than men, particularly in child care duties and time spent with children. The findings underscore the challenge of changing established patterns in household labor division and the persistence of gendered expectations in relationships.

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